Premier League

Michael Carrick has officially joined Manchester United backroom team and received his first coaching assignment for Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley against Chelsea.

The 38-year-old hung up his boots after playing 85′ in the home win against Watford and is set for a coaching role in the Red Devils’ staff:“I am not training this week. I am going to jump on the staff.”

We reported earlier this morning Manchester United duo Romelu Lukaku (ankle) and Anthony Martial (knee) are still in doubt for FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Alvaro Morata‘s experience at Stamford Bridge could reach the end of the line soon, according to Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.

It is understood Juventus are keeping tabs on the Chelsea striker, who scored 11 goals in his first Premier League season, and remain confident he would be eager to move back to Turin.

Morata was a key player for Juventus until June 2016, when Real Madrid signed him on a £30m move, and La Gazzetta dello Sport believes Massimiliano Allegri wants a reunion with the current Chelsea striker.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has warned his players they’ll have “no chance” of beating Manchester United in the FA Cup Final if display against Newcastle United at St.James’ park is repeated.

The Italian told reporters:”For the next game, for sure we must change. If we think we can play a game like this in the final of the FA Cup then we don’t have a chance”.

We reported earlier this morning that Manchester United duo Romelu Lukaku (ankle) and Anthony Martial (knee) are still doubtful ahead of Wembley clash, as José Mourinho confirmed following their home win against Watford.

Thomas Tuchel is the new PSG manager after putting the pen to paper on a two-year deal, the Ligue 1 champions have announced through their official Twitter account.

With Unai Emery also linked with a move to Arsenal, Tuchel gets a new job following his sacking at Borussia Dortmund in May 2017.

It is understood Paris Saint-Germain were keen to appoint current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who could leave Stamford Bridge at the end of current season, however the Italian boss definitely won’t travel to Paris.

SkySports reported this morning that Chelsea are also considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino after the Spurs secured a spot in the next Champions League group stages.

Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri was full of praise and emotion when asked to provide an update on his future at the club.

The Italian told SkySport in Italy: “I deeply love the city and the fans and this sentiment will never change, no matter how the story finishes.”

It is understood Chelsea are keeping tabs on Sarri, who led the Serie A side close to Scudetto in his three seasons at San Paolo, despite Aurelio De Laurentiis would be eager to keep the Italian manager and extend his contract. Sarri’s current deal at Napoli runs until June 2020.

Chelsea captain Gary Cahill believes the Blues’ display against Newcastle United at St.James’ Park was below-par as Antonio Conte’s men suffered a 3-0 defeat in the last game of Premier League 2017/18 season.

The captain told Chelsea’s official website: “It was a below-par performance by ourselves. For whatever reason, we were way off the pace. Newcastle made it very difficult for us early on.”

“They started very well, but there were sloppy things from us: sloppy passes, things we shouldn’t be doing, so we are very disappointed in the dressing room. There were individual mistakes here, there and everywhere which was putting us under extreme amounts of pressure. That’s not in our make-up”.

“It looked to me like everyone had one eye on the cup final, which is very dangerous. We are very lucky that the game was somewhat irrelevant in the end as Liverpool won, because if we had come off that pitch with that performance having thrown a Champions League spot away, it would have been extremely hard to take.”

While Antonio Conte keeps saying he is focused on his present and the Fa Cup final, pundit Jamie Redknapp believes the Italian manager won’t be at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of next season.

“For Conte, I’d be amazed if we see him on the touchline at Chelsea from next season”. Redknapp said. “I think he looks like he wants to get away now.”

The former Liverpool player claims today, during the game vs Newcastle, Conte himself sent clear “signals” he doesn’t want to be Chelsea manager anymore: “Normally you see him on the touchline leading from the front,” Redknapp explained. “He’s the one that signals all the pressing actions you want to get from a manager. But you can see now, even he looks like a beaten man. It certainly doesn’t mean he’s a bad manager if it doesn’t work out here because managers seem to have one or two years, they come in, instant impact then they go. Someone else comes along, they get success – that’s Chelsea’s model if you like. It works for them, it won’t work for others”.

Plenty of chants singing Rafa Benitez’s name at St.James’ Park after the Magpies earned an important win to secure a respectful 10th place in the Premier League standings.

Chelsea suffered their 10th defeat in a disappointing season as 70 points are not enough to book a place in the next Champions League group stage. Dwight Gale broke the deadlock before Ayoze Perez’s brace sealed a 3-0 at St.James’ Park, where the Blues conceded too many chances to score.

Moreover, Liverpool‘s 4-0 home win against Brighton faded Chelsea hopes to remain in the race for a top four finish. Antonio Conte‘s men were more dangerous in the second half (Ross Barkley went close to scoring with two efforts), but Jonjo Shelvey’s low shot was deflected from Ayoze Perez past Thibaut Courtois. A couple of minutes later is Perez again: the Spaniard was clever to exploit a perfect free-kick, well assisted by Lejeune from a close range while Chelsea’s defense left him unmarked.

This result means Chelsea will be playing the Europa League next season, alongside with Arsenal and Burnley. Sparkling display from Newcastle United made the difference at St.James Park as the Blues suffered their 10th defeat of Premier League season

Chelsea legend John Terry reveals his future plans: last year the former Blues skipper claimed he joined Aston Villa, who are playing the Championship, because he couldn’t sign with any another Premier League side that wasn’t Chelsea.

But now it seems he changed his mind and he opens his door to other Premier League clubs:

“I hope this isn’t the end. If we go up, I’m staying. And hopefully I can play for a few more years in the Premier League.’

“It’s only fair that if we go up, which is the belief within the group, that I stick around. It’s in my contract when I hit a certain number of matches.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it here and love the way I’ve been accepted. I had to perform to get the approval of the fans and the group, and it was a big call by the manager, too, to sign someone at 36 years of age and coming to the end of their career.’

“The job isn’t done yet. We’ve got a few more games to go. But hopefully I am here next season.”

Chelsea have almost lost all their chances to qualify for the next Champions League with Wednesday’s draw vs Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, however, can still win the Fa Cup, but in any case, Antonio Conte believes this is a good season for him and his team:

“I’m very happy. I’m very happy for last season. I’m very happy for this season. You learn in this job. If you are clever you continue to learn and improve yourself, to try and be better in the future.” Conte said during his pre-game press conference. “It’s a great experience, we had two hard seasons, this season and last, but a fantastic season for me. It’s OK. I think this league is great, is the toughest league in the world. To compete in this league, with so many teams and so many clubs very strong, it’s always a great chance you have”.

As the Premier League is the toughest league in the world, Conte has always been aware of the chance of finishing out of the top-four:

“You must know that there is this possibility because you play in a strong league. For this reason, you have to know this and prepare in the right way”. Conte explained. “There are six top teams at the start of the season ready to fight for a place in the Champions League. It can happen. In the past, it happened the same. Don’t forget two years ago, Chelsea ended the season 10th and not in the FA Cup final, not in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup, and they were eliminated in the last 16 against PSG in the Champions League. It can happen.”

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